Adapter wall construction



6 M. BOBRICK 3,267,332

ADAPTER WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 6, 1964 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /54 M6 /55 I a2 0 4 INV EN TOR.

MITCHELL Boa/wax BY MAHO/VE), HALBEET 6.-

HoEMBA/(EE A T7'OE/VE rs United States Patent 3,267,332 ADAPTER WALL CONSTRUCTION Mitchell Bohrick, 605 Erskine Drive, Pacific Palisades, Calif. Filed Apr. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 357,428 6 Claims. (Cl. 317-99) This invention relates to a wall construction and, more particularly, to a wall construction for facing existing interior walls, relocating and concealing existing service and utility outlets and boxes in said existing walls, and centralizing all such service and utility outlets and boxes in a convenient area.

The invention is herein described and illustrated as applied in a hospital room, such as a two-bed room in which it is desired to locate all service outlets at an attractive console between the beds, to improve the room lighting, and to cover existing outlets randomly dispersed over the existing room wall, but it will be readily seen that the invention may be applied to any room or other walled structure in which it is desired not only to improve the aesthetic appearance of the room or structure by eliminatiing random spacing of various outlets and boxes over a substantial area of the wall or structure and concentrating all of said outlets and boxes in one centralized area, but also to provide added convenience and efficiency by such centralized location of utility and service outlets and boxes.

Furthermore, for purposes of convenience the invention is herein described and illustrated asapplied to a wall construction which is suitable for mounting on an existing wall, but it will also be obvious that the inventive concept may be applied to a new wall structure.

In normal room construction, outlets such as electrical wall outlets are often randomly spaced on a wall, generally to suit the convenience of the builder, rather than that of the subsequent occupants of the room, the builder being primarily interested in ease of installation, so that his choice of location of outlets is often dictated by the location of the studs and joists and of feeder cables and conduits. If, subsequent to the original construction, other electric walls outlets, for instance, are required, or it is desired, in the case of a hospital room, to install such items as speakers for a public address system, telephone jacks, connections for oxygen conduits, additional wall lighting fixtures, X-ray equipment jacks, and buzzer call systems, the same installation considerations will apply, and the result often is an unsightly, inconvenient, randomly-spaced and scattered dispersal of the outlets and boxes over a substantial area of the wall.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an adapter wall construction which may be readily mounted on an existing wall of a room, and which will aesthetically improve the appearance of the room by covering randomly dispersed service and utility outlets and boxes, while at the same time providing centralization of said outlets and boxes in a convenient area.

Itis another object of the invention to provide such a wall construction incorporating novel means permitting ready accessto various utility and service conduits and cables and additional installations and repair.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a panel wall construction which includes concealed shelves for supporting various items, such as public address speaker boxes.

It is another object of the invention to provide an adapter wall construction which includes adequate and attractive lighting.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide such an adapter wall construction which may be readily installed in an existing room or structure without exten- 3,267,332 Patented August 16, 1966 sive rebuilding of the existing walls, and at a minimal cost of installation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the arrangement and combination of the various parts of a wall construction whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a wall showing lighting fixtures and a public address speaker mounted thereon, and showing randomly spaced utility outlets, fittings and jacks scattered over a substantial portion of the surface of the wall;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the lighting fixtures, the speaker, and the outlet mounting plates removed;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a framework of the adaper wall of the present invention mounted on the wall of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a shelf structure and various lead conduits and cables installed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing cover panels installed on the framework of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, partially broken away, taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, partially broken away, taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a wall 10 having a plurality of lighting fixtures 12 mounted thereon, together with a plurality of outlets, fittings, switches and jacks, collectively designated 14, for electrical power connection, conduit connection and telephone connection, said outlets, fittings, switches and jacks being randomly dispersed over the surface of wall 10. Said outlets, fittings, switches and jacks have wall mounting plates 16. There is also shown a public address speaker 18.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings, the lighting fixtures 12, the switches 14, the plates 16, and the speaker 18 have been removed, leaving the outlets fittings and jacks 14, together with outlets 20 for the lighting fixtures 12 and an outlet 22 for the speaker, fully exposed. The wall 10 is now conditioned for the mounting thereon of the adapter wall construction of the present invention.

FIG. 3 of the drawings shows a framework, generally designated 30, mounted on the Wall 10. Framework 30, which is hereinafter described and illustrated in FIGS. 6-7 of the drawings in more detail, has a top horizontal member 32 and a bottom horizontal member 34 disposed in spaced, substantially parallel relationship to each other, and vertical members 35, 36, 37 and 38 (the number and spacing of which may vary by choice and according to the length of wall 10), which interconnects members 32 and 34 in spaced, substantially parallel relationship to each other. Preferably said members 32-38 are mounted on wall 10 so as to avoid overlying the outlets, fittings and jacks 14, 20, and 22, so that said outlets, fittings and jacks remain readily accessible.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a panel framework 40 is shown as being centrally installed, which would be a convenient location for it if, for instance, the Wall construction of the present invention was being erected in a two-bed hospital room or a hotel or a motel room, with the framework 40 disposed between the beds, in view of the fact that framework 40 will support a console for outlets and utilities, as hereinafter described, although it will be readily recognized that said framework 40 may be otherwise disposed, as desired, on one side or another of the wall.

Framework 40 has vertical side members 44, between which side members 44 horizontal shelves 46 are disposed.

Lead cables and conduits 48 are connected to outlets, fittings and jacks 14, outlets 20 and outlet 22, said cables and conduits leading from said outlets, fittings and jacks into framework 40 through appropriate punch-out openings 49 in side members 44 of framework 40 (illustrated in FIG. 6), for connection to other outlets, fittings and jacks hereinafter described, standard conduit fittings 50 being provided, if desired.

FIG. 4 also shows a lighting fixture 51 mounted on top portion 32 of framework 30.

In FIG. of the drawings, the spaces between the shelves 46 of the framework 40 are covered by face panels 60 to form a console generally designated 62. It is preferred, for aesthetic purposes and also for servicing convenience, that a plurality of face panels 60 be utilized, leaving the outer edges of the shelves 46 exposed, although it will be recognized that, if desired, a single face panel may be mounted on framework 40.

Mounted on the face panels 60 are outlets, fittings, switches and jacks collectively designated 64, with mounting plates 66 as desired. The outlets, fittings, switches and jacks 64 are connected to the cables and conduits 48 of FIG. 4 'in back of the panels 60*. One of the panels 60 is louvered, as at 68, the public address speaker 18 being reinstalled on one of the shelves 46 in back of the louver 68.

Wall panels 70 are mounted on framework 30 between the top member 32 and the bottom member 34 of framework 30 and laterally of console 62. If desired, the panels 70 may be spaced from console 62, leaving recesses 72 therebetween. Said recesses 72 may be appropriately lined and decorated to form niches for use, for instance,

as storage space for appliances or instruments. Also if desired end panels 74 may be installed.

Means for easily mounting and dismounting the panels 60 are hereinafter described in detail. Said panels 60 are therefore readily removable for service or new installation of additional outlets, fittings, switches and jacks.

A second lighting fixture 52 is shown mounted on top portion 32 of framework 30.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, top horizontal member 32 of framework 30 is shown mounted on the wall by any suitable means, such as by screws 80. An upwardly and outwardly projecting flange 82 is formed at the upper edge of member 32. The lower edge of member 32 is bent outwardly to form a U-shaped bracket 84. Intermediate the edges of member 32 an outwardly projecting flange 86 is mounted, the protruding end 88 of the flange 86 being bent downwardly.

The upper end 90 of the vertical member 37 of framework 30 is bent to form a hook 92 having its free end 93 disposed downwardly so as to be received in the U-shaped bracket 84 of the member 32, the vertical member 37 thus being supported on the horizontal member 32. The lower end 94 of the member 37 is bent to form a U- shaped bracket 96.

Member 37 is mounted on the wall 10 by any suitable means, such as by screws 97.

An outwardly and upwardly projecting lance 98 is mounted on member 37 adjacent the hook 92, and an outwardly and downwardly projecting lance 99 is mounted on member 37 adjacent the bracket 96.

The bottom horizontal member 34 of framework 30 has mounted thereon, adjacent the inner edge thereof, an upwardly projecting flange 100, the upper end of which is bent downwardly to form an inwardly directed hook 102 having its free end 104 disposed downwardly so as to be received in the U-shaped bracket 96 of the member 37, the bottom. horizontal member 34 thus being supported on the vertical member 37 in abutment with the wall 10. The hook 102 is retained in the bracket 96 by the lance 99.

4 Adjacent the outer edge of the member 34 an upwardly projecting flange 106 is formed. Mounted on the upper end of the flange 106 is a plate 108, which is disposed in substantially parallel relationship to the member 34. The inner end of plate 108 is arced upwardly and bent backwardly to form a female receptacle 110 for reception of the male portion of a snap fastener mounted on a panel 74 hereinafter described. The outer end of plate 103 is preferably disposed in a vertical plane with the outer edge of the member 34.

Facing L-shaped flanges 112 are formed on the member 34 intermediate the flanges 100 and 106, the purpose of said flanges 112 being to form a slottedtrack to receive a mounting bracket hereinafter described.

In FIG. 6 the lighting fixture 52 is shown mounted on and supported by the top horizontal member 32. A vertically disposed plate has formed on the upper end 122 thereof an inwardly directed hook 124, the free end 126 of the hook 124 being disposed downwardly, so as to receive the flange 82 of the member 32 within the hook 124, the plate 120 being thus supported by the member 32. The lower end 128 of the plate 120 is supported by the lance 98. Intermediate the ends 122 and 128 of the plate 120, an inwardly projecting flange 130, having its free end upturned, is formed, flange 130 being positioned so as to hook over the flange 86 on the member 32 and secure the plate 120 in spaced, parallel relationship to the member 32.

At the lower end 128 of the plate 120 there is mounted a horizontal plate 134 extending outwardly at right-angle to the plate 120. Intermediate the ends of the plate 134, facing L-shaped flanges 136 are mounted in dependent position, the purpose of said flanges 136 to form a slotted track to receive a mounting bracket hereinafter described. A vertical plate 138 is mounted on the free end of the plate 134 and extends upwardly therefrom, plate 138 being substantially shorter than plate 120, but disposed parallel thereto. The upper end 140 of the plate 138 is bent outwardly to form a flange 141, and adjacent to the end 140 a downwardly and outwardly curved arced flange 142 is mounted to form a female receptacle 144 for reception of the male portion of a snap fastener mounting hereinafter described.

Intermediate the ends of the plate 120 and the ends of the plate 138 aligned facing flanges 146 are formed, the

flanges 146 having arced recesses formed therein. A cover.

147 is disposed between the flanges 146, said cover 147 being transversely supported between the plates 120' and 138 by upwardly turned ends 148 arcuately bent to snap into the recesses in the flanges 146 and to snap over the flanges 146. Depending from the cover 147 is a socket holder 149.

The lighting fixture 5'2 has a horizontally disposed top translucent panel 150, the inner edge of which is bent to form a hook 152, the free end 154 of the hook 152 being disposed upwardly. The hook 152 snaps under an outwardly and downwardly disposed hook 156 mounted on the end 122 of the plate 120 to fasten the upper portion of the lighting fixture 52 to the plate 120.

A second translucent panel 158 depends from the outward end of the panel 150, and a third translucent panel 160 is mounted on the lower end of the panel 158 and extends inwardly. At the inner end of the panel 160 a downwardly disposed hook 162 is formed, the hook 162 being disposed so as to snap over and behind the flange 141 so'as to fasten the lower portion of the lighting fixture 52 to the plate 138, the flange 141 supporting the panel 160.

A neon tube 164 is supported within the lighting fixture. 52 by a stand 166 mounted on the cover 147 and connected to the socket holder 149. A reflector 168 may also be disposed within the lighting fixture 52, the reflector 168 being mounted at one end thereof at the intersection of the panel 158 and the panel 160 and arcing upwardly and inwardly therefrom so as to direct light through the panel 160.

' A member 170, hereinafter described in more detail, is disposed within the panel framework 40. The member 170 has a top horizontal section 172, a vertical section 174 aligned with the vertical member 37, and bottom horizontal section 176.

An externally threaded stud 180 is disposed in a centrally located bore in the plate 134 and protrudes upwardly and downwardly from the plate 134. The stud 180 may be mounted on the plate 134 by opposed nuts 182 and 184 disposed, respectively, above and below the plate 134. The stud 180 passes through an opening in the horizontal section 172 of the member 170 and, as shown in FIG. 7, a typical electric conduit lock nut 186 is mounted on the lower end of stud 180 to engage the horizontal section 172 of the member 170. The stud 180 has a through-bore for passage of a cable therethrough for electrical power for the lighting fixture 52.

Referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the member 170 has an upper vertical face plate 240 which is bent inwardly at its upper extremity to form a flange 242. The flange 242 has a downwardly disposed are 244 at its free end, the are 244 cooperating with the receptacle 144 to form a snap fastener for mounting the member 170 on the vertical plate 138.

The lower extremity of the face plate 240 bends inwardly to define the top horizontal section 172 of the member 170. Adjacent said bend, section 172 is arced upwardly to form the receptacle 246 for the reception of a mating arc 248 on the flanged upper end of the topmost face panel 60, which is thus snap-fastened to section 172 in alignment with face plate 240. The lower end of the topmost face panel 60 is similarly snap-fastened to one of the shelves 46, and the upper and lower ends of intermediate face panels 60 and the upper end of the lowermost face panel 60 are similarly mounted on shelves 46, while the lower end of the lowermost face panel 60 is also similarly snap-fastened to the bottom horizonal section 176 of the member 170.

A vertical groove 270 is formed in each side member 44, and slidably disposed in said grooves 270 are L-shaped brackets 272, said bracket 272 extending outwardly therefrom to form adjustable supports for the shelves 46. The shelves 46 are slotted to receive the brackets 272, and the shelves 46 are secured to the brackets 272 by screws 274. The brackets 272 are adjustably positioned along the grooves 270 by set-screws 276. Other brackets 272 are disposed in grooves 270 and in the tracks defined by the flanges 112 and 136, and serve to mount the side members 44 on the member 34 and the section 172.

A coping or kickplate 286 may be mounted on member 34, as by insertion between member 34 and the plate 108, as best illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

In FIG. 7 of the drawings, ballast 290 for the lighting fixture 50 is shown disposed in a housing 292 which corresponds in all respects to the housing for the lighting fixture 52 hereinabove described and as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings, except that panels 294 and 296 of the housing 292 are opaque rather than translucent.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded. the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and devices.

I claim:

1. An adapter wall construction which comprises: a framework having top and bottom horizontal members and a plurality of vertical members interconnecting the horizontal members, said framework being adapted to be mounted on a wall having a plurality of utility and service outlets thereon; exterior wall panel sections removably mounted on the top and bottom members of the framework in spaced relationship to the wall; a second framework mounted on the top and bottom members of the first framework intermediate the exterior wall panel sections; a panel means removably mounted on the second framework in spaced relationship to the wall; utility and service outlets mounted on the panel means; and conduits and cables disposed behind the exterior wall panel sections and the panel means interconnecting the utility and service outlets on the wall and the utility and service outlets on the panel means.

2. An adapted wall construction which comprises: a framework having top and bottom horizontal members and a plurality of vertical members interconnecting the horizontal members, said framework being adapted to be mounted on a wall having a plurality of utility and service outlets thereon; exterior wall panel sections removably mounted on the top and bottom members of the framework in spaced relationship to the wall; a second framework mounted on the top and bottom members of the first framework intermediate the exterior wall panel sections; a plurality of shelves disposed within the second framework; panel means removably mounted on the second framework intermediate said shelves; utility and service outlets mounted on said panel means; and conduits and cables disposed behind the exterior wall panel sections and panel means interconnecting the utility and service outlets on the wall and the utility and service outlets on said panel means.

3. An adapter wall construction which comprises: a first elongate, horizontally disposed member mounted on a wall, said wall having a plurality of utility and service outlets thereon; vertically disposed members suspended from said first horizontal member and mounted on said wall; a second elongate, horizontally disposed member suspended from said vertically disposed members; a pair of perforate vertically disposed members mounted on said first and second horizontally disposed members intermediate the ends thereof, said perforate members being spaced apart from each other; a first panel removably mounted on said first and second horizontally disposed members and said perforate members, said panel being spaced apart from said wall; a plurality of utility and service outlets mounted on said panel; conduits and cables disposed intermediate said wall and said panel, and passing through perforations in said perforate members, said conduits and cables interconnecting the utility and service outlets on said wall and the utility and service outlets on said panel; and wall panels removably mounted on said first and second horizontally disposed members laterally of said first panel, said wall panels being spaced apart from said wall and disposed so as to cover the utility and service outlets on said wall and said conduits and cables.

4. An adapter wall construction :as defined in claim 3, including shelves adjustably mounted on and disposed between said perforate members, said shelves being disposed to support utilities connected to said conduits and cables.

5. An adapter wall construction which comprises: a first elongate, horizontally disposed member mounted on a wall, said wall having a plurality of utility and service outlets thereon; vertically disposed members suspended from said first horizontal member and mounted on said wall; a second elongate, horizontally disposed member suspended from said vertically disposed members; a pair of perforate vertically disposed members mounted on said first and second horizontally disposed members intermediate the ends thereof, said perforate members being spaced apart from each other; a plurality of shelves adjustably mounted on and disposed between said perforate members; panels removably mounted on said perforate members and disposed intermediate said shelves, said panels being spaced apart from the wall; utility and service outlets mounted on said panels; conduits "and cables disposed intermediate the wall and said panels and passing through perforations in said perforate members, said conduits and cables interconnecting the utility and service outlets on the Wall and the utility and service outlets on said panels; and Wall panels removahly mounted on and disposed between said first and second horizontal members laterally of said other panels, said wall panels being spaced apart from the wall and disposed so as to cover the utility and service outlets on the wall and said conduits and cables.

6. An adapter wall construction :as defined in claim 5, including: lighting fixtures mounted on said first horizontal member; and cables intermediate the Wall and the wall panels, said cables passing through perforations in said perforate members and interconnecting outlets on the wall and the lighting fixtures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,031,542 2/1936 Manchester 31799 2,041,112 5/1936 Bucher 31799 2,051,639 8/ 1936 Kalmbecker 31712 1 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Examiner.

J. J. BOSCO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADAPTER WALL CONSTRUCTION WHICH COMPRISES: A FRAMEWORK HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM HORIZONTAL MEMBERS AND A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL MEMBERS INTERCONNECTING THE HORIZONTAL MEMBERS, SAID FRAMEWORK BEING ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON A WALL HAVING A PLURALITY OF UTILITY AND SERVICE OUTLETS THEREON; EXTERIOR WALL PANEL SECTIONS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS OF THE FRAMEWORK IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE WALL; A SECOND FRAMEWORK MOUNTED ON THE TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS OF THE FIRST FRAMEWORK INTERMEDIATE HE EXTERIOR WALL PANEL SECTIONS; A PANEL MEANS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE SECOND FRAMEWORK IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE WALL; UTILITY AND SERVICE OUTLETS MOUNTED ON THE PANEL MEANS; AND CONDUITS AND CABLES DISPOSED BEHIND THE EXTERIOR WALL PANEL SECTIONS AND THE PANEL MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE UTILITY AND SERVICE OUTLETS ON THE WALL AND THE UTILITY AND SERVICE OUTLETS ON THE PANEL MEANS. 